Nursing unit



T. H. EYLES NURSING UNIT A ril 22, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 12, 1956 INVENTOR. THOMAS H. EYLES A ril 22, 1958 T. H. EYLES 2,331,596

NURSING UNIT Filed Jan. 12, 1956 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. THOMAS H. EYLES United States Patent NURSIYG UNIT Thomas H. Eyles, Leominster, Mass., assignor to Foster Grant Co., lino, Leomiuster, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application January 12, 1956, Serial No. 558,649

8 Claims. (Cl. 215-11) This invention relates to nursing bottles and more particularly to those with improved nipples, nipple retainers and closures.

The most common type of nursing bottle presently in use is made of glassor other non-flexible material, with various types of nipples, some with air control features, requiring more or less unsanitary fingering for assembling and some with closures more or less secure. cases where bottles made of flexible plastic or other flexible material have been used, satisfactory leak-proof nipple-retaining mechanisms have not been provided.

A primary object of my invention is to provide a safe, leak-proof sanitary and fool-proof nursing bottle unit of the sort having a nipple, locking ring, adjustable feed and protective nipple closure.

A further object is to provide such a unit which can be used with flexible bottles, as, for example, flexible plastic.

Among the advantages of my invention is the provision of a durable device which is economical to manufacture. The nipple does not have to be stretched for attachment to bottle. Such stretching tends to weaken or break the base of nipple. With this invention there can be no unintentional disengagement by a child or others. Also, there can be no accidental discharge from the bottle due to lateral pressure on the dome of nipple. Further there is an effective seal between the bottle and nipple, even with a bottle made of flexible material. In addition there is a triple lock to prevent forcible removal of the nipple from the bottle.

While there is sufiicient contact to make the unit watertight, it can be adjusted to allow sufiicicnt air to enter the bottle to prevent collapse of the nipple. The nipple cannot rotate under the cap but can be picked up by the cap and applied to the bottle without being touched by the fingers. With the cap in place and tightened the nipple cannot be separated from the bottle by the child.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment, illustrative of the invention and shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the complete device;

Figure 2 is a vertical medial sectional view of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail view in perspective showing the nipple closure;

Figure 4 is a detail view in perspective showing the nipple;

Figure 5 is a detail view in perspective showing the locking ring; a

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail showing the nipple, groove and assembly.

Referring to the drawings, the device therein shown comprises a bottle 1 having a collar 2 provided with an exterior inclined thread 3, a top bearing surface 4, and a polygonal contour 5. While glass may be used in the manufacture of the bottle, a bottle made of a flexible plastic such as polyethylene is preferred because it is unbreakable. A cap for the bottle comprises a nipple 6,

In those "ice a locking ring 13 and a nipple closure 20. The pliable nipple 6 has the usual perforated mouthpiece 7, a dome section 8, a seat comprising a base section 9, an upwardly extending oblique locking wall 10 and a fiat laterally extending annular gasket section 11. The bottom surface of gasket 11 has a multiplicity of small radially slotted protuberances 12. The upper and lower surfaces of gasket 11 are parallel except for the protuberances. Pro tuberances 12 extend across locking wall 10.

The locking ring 13, molded in this case from nylon, has a crown 14, cylindrical depending sides inwardly threaded 15, an inner concentric depending hollow cylinder 16, a depending annular concentric bead 17 spaced between side 15 and the cylinder 16, a polygonal contour 18 and an orifice 19. The nipple closure 20 has a lower section 21 with a smaller outside diameter than 20 forming an outside surface lip 22.

The lower portion of dome section 8, base section 9, and oblique wall 10 form the sides of a groove 23 adapted to receive cylinder 16 of locking ring 13 and the lower section 21 of nipple closure 20. The cylinder 16 provides an external lateral barrier for dome section 8 of nipple.

The diameter of orifice 19 is greater than that of the lower section 21 of nipple closure 20 which in turn is greater than that of the lower portion of dome section 8 of nipple 6. All comparable inside dimensions of nipple closure 20 are greater than the outside dimensions of nipple 6.

In assembling, the sterile nipple 6 is picked up by passing orifice 19 of ring 13 over dome section 8 as there is a loose fit between them.

The base section 9 of the nipple is placed in contact with top bearing surface 4 of bottle 1 and threads 15 of locking ring 13 are engaged with threads 3 of bottle by turning ring clockwise firmly anchoring the nipple.

Nipple closure 20 is then placed over nipple and lower section 21 is inserted into ring orifice 19, between lower section of nipple dome 8 and cylinder 16 until lip 22 is seated on crown 14 of ring 13 resulting in a snug fit between nipple, closure and ring. Further tightening of locking ring 13 forces bead 17 into gasket section 11 and retarding rotary movement of the nipple. In operation, ring 13 is loosened and adjusted so that enough air is admitted through slotted protuberances, by the distortion of the gasket and the protuberances, to prevent collapse of the nipple due to the creation of a partial vacuum within the bottle as a result of the removal of the liquid contents by suction. After such proper adjustment the assembly still remains water tight.

While the preferred embodiment of my invention has been described in detail, it will be understood that I do not wish to be limited to the particular construction set forth, since various changes in the form, material, proportions and arrangements of parts, and in the detail of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, or destroying any of the advantages contained in the same, heretofore described and defined in the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. A hygienic nursing bottle unit comprising a bottle, an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and a nipple closure; said bottle terminating in a collar having a top bearing surface and provided with an inclined exterior thread; said nipple having a perforated mouthpiece, a dome section, a seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending oblique locking wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined interior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said bead; of said ring; said dome, base section, oblique wall 1 and gasket section being, at substantially right angles to each other; said dome, base section and oblique wall forming a rectangular groove adaptedto receive said depending cylinder and lower portion of said closure; said slotted protuberances being positioned on the outside surface of said oblique wall and on bottom surface of said gasket section.

2. A hygienic nursing bottle unit comprising a bottle, an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and a nipple closure; said bottle terminating in a-collar having a top bearingisurface and provided with an inclined exterior thread; said nipple having a perforated mouthpiece, a dome section, a seatcomprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending oblique locking wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined interior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said cylinder; said nipple closure having an outside surface lip; said crown of locking ring providing a seat for lip of said closure; said hollow cylinder providing an external lateral barrier for dome of said nipple; said cylinder, crown and bead of said ring being contiguous to said base section, oblique wall, gasket and protuberances of said nipple; the diameter of said ring orifice being greater than the lower diameter of said closurewhich is an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and a nipple closure; said bottle terminating in a collar having a top bearing surface and provided with an inclined exterior thread; said nipple having a perforated mouthpiece, a dome section, a seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending obliquelocking wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined interior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said cylinder; said nipple closure having an outside surface lip; the diameter of said ring orifice being greater than the lower diameter of said closure which is greater than the diameter of said nipple dome; all inside dimensions:

of said closure being greater than the comparable outside dimension of-mouthpiece and dome of said nipple;

said dome, base section, oblique wall-and gasket section being at substantially right angles to each other; said dome, base sectionand oblique wallforrning a rectangular groove adapted to-receive said depending cylinder and lower portion of saidclosure; said slotted protuberances being positioned onqoutside surfaceof said oblique wall and on bottom surface of said gasket section.

4. A hygienic nursing bottle unit comprisingta bottle,-

an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and a nipple closure; said bottle terminating in a'collar having a ton bearing surface and provided with an in clined exterior thread; said nipple having a perforated: mouthpiece, a dome section, a-seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardlyextending'oblique locking.

tassnaoe wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a-crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined in= terior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said cylinder; said nipple closure having an outside surface lip; said bead and crown being adapted to distort said protuberances and gasket for allowing the inlet of air; said crown of locking ring providing a seat for, lip of said closure; said hollow cylinder providing an external lateral barrier for dome of said nipple; said nipple being anchored by the cylinder, crown and bead of said ring; said dome,

base section, oblique wall and gasket section being at substantially right angles to each other; said dome, base section and oblique wallfo'r'ming a'rectangular groove adapted to receive said, depending cylinder and lower portion of said closure; said slotted protuberances being positioned 'onnoutside' surface of said oblique wall and on bottom surface. of'said gasket section.

5. A hygienic nursing bottle unit comprising a flexible" plastic bottle, an"anchorable'pliab1e nipple, an adjustable lockingring and a nipple closure; said bottle terminating-in a collarhaving a top bearing surface and provided with an inclined exterior thread; said nipple" having aperforated mouthpiece; a dome section, a seat, comprising a horizontal" base section, an upwardly ex tending oblique locking wall-arid a horizontalgasketsection provided with slotted protuberances; said lockingf ring having-a crown with peripheral depending sides'provided with-aninclin'ed interior cooperating thread, a con centrievertically depending hollow" cylinder enclosing an orifice and aconcentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and saidcylinderjsaidnipple closure. havingan'o'utside surface lip; said dome, base section andoblique wall forming a groove adapted toreceive said depending cylinder and lower portion of said closure;

said cylinder, crown'and bead of said ring being contigu-. J.

ous to said basesection, oblique wall, gasketand protuberances of saidnipple; the diameter of said ring orifice being greater thanthe lower diameter of said closure which is greater than the diameter of said nipple dome;

all inside-dirrierisions of said' closure being greater than the comparableoutside dimensionof mouthpiece and dome of said nipplej said dome, ba'se, -section,, oblique wall and gasketsection being at'substanti'ally rightanglesto each other; said slotted protuberances being positioned onoutside surface ofisaid oblique'wall and on bottom surface ,of said gasket section;

6.iA-hygienio nursingnbottle unit comprising a flexible plastic bottle',' an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and arni'pple closureysaid bottle terminating; V

ina collarhaving a top bearingsurfaceand provided with an inclined exterior thread;said nipple having aperforat'ed mouthpiece, a: dome section, a-seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending oblique locking walland-a horizontal gasket section provided, with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having acrown with peripheral dependingsidespr'ovided with an inclined interior "cooperating thread,- a concentric vertically depending; hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bear spaced between said side and saidcylinder; said nipple closure having an; outside surface lip; said bead and crown being adapted to distortsaid protuherances and. gasket ,ifor i'allowing the inletof air; said crown of locking ring providing a seat for lip,

of said closure; 'said3hollo'vv'icylinder'providing;anex ternal lateral barrier for dome ofsaid nipple; said nipplebeinganchored by the cylinder; crown and'bead of said ring; said 'dome, base'section', oblique wall and gasket section ,beingatzsubstantially right angles to each other; I said domepbaseseetionand oblique wall forming a groove adapted to receive said cylinder and-lower portion of said closure; saidcylinderycrown and bead of said ring beingcontiguous to said base section, oblique wall, gasket and protuberances of said nipple; thediameter of said ring orifice being greater than the lower diameter of said closure which is greater than the diameter of said nipple dome; all inside dimensions of said closure being greater than the comparable outside dimension of mouthpiece and dome of said nipple; said slotted protuberances being positioned on outside surface of said oblique wall and on bottom surface of said gasket section.

,7; A nursing bottle comprising a bottle, an anchorable pliable nipple and an adjustable locking ring; said bottle terminating in'a collar having a top bearing surface and provided with an inclined exterior thread; said nipple having a perforated mouthpiece, a dome section, a seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending oblique locking wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined interior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said cylinder; said bead and crown being adapted to distort said protuberances and gasket for allowing the inlet of air; said nipple being anchored by the cylinder, crown and head of said ring; said dome, base section, oblique wall and gasket section being at substantially right angles to each other; said dome, base section and oblique wall forming a rectangular groove adapted toreceive said depending cylinder and lower portion of said closure; said slotted protuberances being positioned on outside surface of said oblique wall and on bottom surface of said gasket section.

8. A nursing bottle cap comprising a bottle, an anchorable pliable nipple, an adjustable locking ring and a nipple closure; said nipple having a perforated mouthpiece, a dome section, a seat comprising a horizontal base section, an upwardly extending oblique locking wall and a horizontal gasket section provided with slotted protuberances; said locking ring having a crown with peripheral depending sides provided with an inclined interior cooperating thread, a concentric vertically depending hollow cylinder enclosing an orifice and a concentric depending annular bead spaced between said side and said cylinder; said nipple closure having an outside surface lip; said crown of locking ring providing a seat for lip of said closure; said cylinder, crown and bead of said ring being contiguous to said base section, oblique wall, gasket and protuberances of said nipple; the diameter of said ring orifice being greater than the lower diameter of said closure which is greater than the diameter of said nipple dome; all inside dimensions of said closure being greater than the comparable outside dimension of mouthpiece and dome of said nipple; said slotted protuberances being positioned on outside surface of said oblique wall and on bottom surface of said gasket section.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,797,433 McCrea Mar. 24, 1931 2,426,927 Ganson Sept. 2, 1947 2,694,500 White Nov. 16, 1954 2,720,328 Clemens Oct. 11, 1955 

